Nearly ten years of raise awareness about water conservation and protection among primary school pupils

First launched in Japan 20 years ago, the "Mizuiku" programme - meaning "Education on Water" - focuses on educating younger generations about the importance of water conservation. Vietnam became the first country outside Japan to implement the "Mizuiku" programme in 2015, and Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam has continuously evolved and expanded the “Mizuiku - I Love Clean Water” initiative.

The programme’s first classes in Thanh Oai marked the beginning of efforts to raise awareness about water conservation among Vietnam's younger generation

In 2023, the programme underwent a significant transformation through a strategic partnership with MoET, scaling up to become a comprehensive and scalable model. This transformation introduced an integrated approach that combines in-school education, experiential education programmes at national parks, and improved access to clean water through infrastructure upgrades. Under this partnership, Mizuiku’s materials were approved to become part of the mandatory curriculum, laying the foundation for the programme to reach up to 3.7 million pupils by 2025.

Building on this milestone, the programme rolled out nationwide in 2024, directly educating nearly 500,000 primary school pupils in a single year, bringing the total to over 900,000 pupils benefiting since its launch in Vietnam.

Alongside this nationwide rollout, Training of Trainers (TOT) sessions were implemented on a broad scale, equipping over 7,400 teachers from 1,100 schools with the knowledge and skills to inspire and effectively deliver water conservation education.

In addition, the programme launched the “Dòng Chảy Tri Thức - Kiến Tạo Tương Lai” creative teaching competition in 2024 to inspire teachers to apply their training and share innovative teaching practices. The competition received hundreds of submissions from teachers nationwide, showcasing creative and impactful lesson plans on water conservation. These submissions underscored the value of the TOT sessions and demonstrated how Mizuiku’s core values are being effectively applied, fostering awareness and a sense of responsibility among pupils for environmental stewardship.

A comprehensive model - From awareness and action to access to clean water

"Mizuiku - I Love Clean Water" is designed as a comprehensive programme with an active, pupil-centred educational approach, combining in-school lessons with practical, experiential learning outside the classroom. Through the “Journey with Mizu to Protect the Environment,” primary pupils participate in “classrooms in the forest,” where they gain a deeper understanding of the water cycle, the role of forests in water conservation, and the importance of protecting these vital ecosystems.

The Mizuiku information corner at the National Park provides pupils with interactive learning experience about the water cycle and the importance of protecting natural resources

To extend the impact of water conservation knowledge beyond the forest experiences, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam established “Mizuiku Environmental Information Corners” at national parks. The first was launched at Cúc Phương National Park, followed by another at Cát Tiên National Park in 2024. These corners are designed to deliver essential information about water resources and conservation to visitors and local communities, fostering awareness and responsibility for water protection and sustainable development.

In addition to raising awareness, "Mizuiku - I Love Clean Water" addresses Vietnam's pressing needs for clean water and sanitation. The programme has implemented infrastructure projects to construct clean water facilities and restrooms for primary pupils and local communities. These efforts not only enhance access to clean water but also underline the programme’s commitment to long-term environmental sustainability. To date, nearly 4.8 million people have benefited from Mizuiku’s direct and indirect initiatives, including improved water infrastructure projects.

Mr. Đỗ Thái Vương reaffirmed Mizuiku's commitment to educating the younger generation about environmental protection

Mr. Đỗ Thái Vương, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam, said: “As a leading beverage company, Suntory PepsiCo recognises water as the lifeblood of both communities and ecosystems, and we are steadfast in creating a positive water impact. Through a comprehensive approach to optimising water use in our operations and replenishing natural water sources, we aim to address the complex water challenges facing Vietnam today. Initiatives such as the ‘Mizuiku - I Love Clean Water’ programme reflect our vision of fostering sustainable change by providing future generations with the knowledge and tools to protect this invaluable resource, ensuring its resilience for years to come.”

By providing in-school education, combined with out-of-school forest expeditions and access to clean water in areas where freshwater remains scarce, "Mizuiku - I Love Clean Water" creates a loop—from raising awareness about water conservation to providing access to freshwater and encouraging proactive actions to preserve this vital resource.

"Mizuiku - I Love Clean Water" continues to highlight its sustainability and commitment to innovation by expanding its reach and enhancing its impact. Through continuous expansion and enhancement, Mizuiku has effectively nurtured water conservation awareness and instilled a sense of responsibility in primary pupils nationwide. Its comprehensive approach—combining education, community outreach, and practical applications—has proven to be a powerful model for fostering future generations who value and protect water resources.

Beyond education, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam has extended its commitment to water sustainability through impactful initiatives such as the “Water of Life” programme, which focuses on reforestation for water replenishment, carbon offset, and livelihood enhancement. Achievements from the first year of this programme have been recently recorded. These initiatives further reinforce the company’s dedication to protecting Vietnam’s vital water resources and contributing to a sustainable future./.